Hanger device for lighting fixture



1956 G. R. LE BROCK HANGER DEVICE FOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan 11,1950 INVENTOR. %7z 32% TTORNEYS.

United States P t Q fO- HANGER DEVICE FOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Glen R. LeBrock, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Curtis Lighting, Inc., Chicago, lll.,a corporation of Illinois Application January 11, 1950, Serial No.137,979

2 Claims. or. 248-317) This invention relates to a hanger device for usewith lighting fixtures and the like.

In the technique for hanging fluorescent fixtures, considerabledifficulty is encountered in maintaining thedesired position of theusual elongated fixtures, until the proper connection is establishedwith hanger elements of the type which have heretofore been employed. Inactual practice, it has often required the services of as many as twomen to hold the fixture in place While the third secured the wireways ofthe fixtures to the hanger. Even after such connections are established,corresponding difficulties are encountered in effecting properadjustment for height in order to bring all of the fixtures intosubstantially level alignment.

This technique becomes more and more objectionable as the length and theweight of the fixture increases and from the cost standpoint, theinstallation charges are more than is to be desired.

It is an object of this invention to produce a hanger device whichrequires a minimum amount of labor for installation thereof andinstallation of the lighting fixture.

Another object is to produce a hanger device for lighting fixtures whichpermits adjustment for height to be rather accurately estimated prior tomounting the'fixture in position of use and which permits adjustment forheight after assembly in a simple and expedient manner.

A further object is to produce a hanger device for lighting fixtureswhich may be positioned throughout the ceiling structure prior toinstallation of the lighting fixture, which receives the lightingfixture in the assembled relation through the expenditure of a minimumamount of effort and labor.

A still further object is to produce a hanger device of the typedescribed which is simple in operation, sturdy in construction andmanufactured of relatively few simple parts and which is adapted topermit mounting of the light fixture in position of use in anexpeditious manner by establishing a firm gripping relation at frequentintervals throughout the length of the lighting fixture and at theconnection of joining lighting fixtures.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention willhereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not oflimitation, an embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawing in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture assembly employinghangers that embody features of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a hanger of the typeshown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the parts making up the hanger devicein their disassembled relation, and

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view showing a slight modificationin a device embodying features of this invention.

A hanger device of the type employed in this invention is adapted to beused on the lower end of a hanger rod having a threaded upper endportion 11 which is threadably engaged by a nut 12 for cooperation witha i like.

2,736,528 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 hickey toggle or other means by whichthe hanger rod 10 is firmly positioned in the ceiling.

As shown in greater detail in Figure 3, the device carried on the lowerthreaded end 13 of the hanger rod 10 is formed ofa pair of rectangularlyshaped strips 14 and 15 of rigid material, such as metal, plastic, wood,or the Each strip has a horizontal end portion 16 and 17 respectively,an integral intermediate portion 18 and 19 respectively which aredownwardly and outwardly inclined at substantially the same angle fromthe horizontal portions 16 and 17 and at substantially the same angle asan inclined portion 20 which extends as a rib 21 through-v out the upperlateral walls of the wireway 22 of the light-v ing fixture. 23 and 24integral with the lower end of the intermediate portions 18 and 19respectively. In the, assembled rela tion, the claw-like members 23 and24are adapted tobe substantially horizontally disposed and are in anabutting relation with the substantially horizontally disposed walls 25formedon the under side of the ribs 21.

In the assembled relation, the horizontal portions 16 and 17 are adaptedto be lapped one over the other by a sub: stantial amount andregisterable openings 27 and 28 re-' spectively are provided forextension therethrough of the threaded-end portion 13 of the rod. Tomilitate against 1 inadvertent lateral swinging movement of parts 14 and15 when in the assembled relation, stops 29 are struck up from thelowermember 14 and other stops 30 are struck downwardly from the uppermember 15. These stops are spaced in the horizontal portions 16 and 17.re-

. spectively to be closely adjacent the end of the lapping portion ofthe cooperating part. The inclined portion of the upper of theoverlapping members, in this instance part 19, is dimensioned to belonger than the part 18 by an amount corresponding to the thickness ofpart 16 so that the lip members 23 and 24 will be at the same level whenin the assembled relation.

The lips or claw-like members 23 and 24 are shown with a central cutoutportion 31 to permit parts of connectors to extend therethrough when inthe assembled relation. These connectors 32, as shown in Figure 1, areused to join one lighting fixture with another to form a continuousabutting chain. With the cutout portion in the hanger device, the hangermay be used at this juncture to support at their very ends. It will beunderstood that where the device is used to engage intermediate portionsof the fixtures, the cutouts are unnecessary.

The threaded end portion 13 of the hanger rod 10 has a pair of nutmembers 32 and 33 arranged with the overlapping portions 16 and 17therebetween.

In operation, one or a pair or more of these hanger assemblies are fixedin the desired arrangement in the ceiling. Adjustment for height may beeffected at this time, prior to mounting the fixture. The nut members 32and 33 are spaced apart in order to permit the parts 14 and 15 to beloosely positioned therebetween. When all of the adjustments have beenmade, it is then only necessary to raise the lighting fixtures intoposition of use by the insertion of the rib portion 21 between theclaw-like members 23 and 24. The members 14 and 15 are able to bedeflected sufficiently in this loose condition to permit the rib portionto be inserted beyond the claw-like members 23 and 24. As the end of theribbed portion passes beyond the claws, the parts 14 and 15, and theclaw-like members 23 and 24 naturally fall into position to grip theribbed portion and the wireway therebetween. At this stage the wirewaymay be released and it will still be held effectively in themountedrelation. For final assembly, it is only necessary to turn thetop screw 32 down to grip the parts 14 and 15 firmly therebetween toestablish a permanent relation. In this relation the lips or claw-likemembers 23 and 24 seat under Each strip also has a turned in lip orclaw.

neath the. Walls 26 of the rib while the inclined portions 18 and 19embrace the inclined walls 20 of. the rib.

In the event that the hanger rod is in the form of a narrow rod-likemember 40, as shown in Figure 4 it is possible to effect, acorresponding arrangement by providing a bushing part 41 having anexternal dimension adapted to fit. within the openings 27 and 28 in theparts 14 and 15 respectively. The bushing part may be externallythreaded. for engagement by a nut 42 while its. internal bore. may bethreaded, as at 43, for threaded engagement. with the threaded end 44 ofthe rod 40. Such adjustment along the rod may be effected from theknurled end. 45. An enlarged shoulder 46 integrated with the lower end.of the bushing part which extends through the opening engages theunderside of the strip 15. and. cooperates with the nut 42 to grip. theparts firmly therebetween when in the assembled. relation.

Adjustment for height can be effected while the parts are in. theassembled relation merely by turning the. bush iugpart relative to thesupporting rod.

As shown in Figure l, the. hanger rods may serve as. wire. entrancevhangers to feed the Wires 47 into the wireways- 20.. The threaded endportions 13 may be made to extend a suflicient distance from the hangerdevice proper to permit. entrance into suitable openings provided in thetop wall of the wireway and thereby secure a more rigid and effectiveassembly, as shown in Figure 2..

It will be obvious from the above description that a newand novel hangerdevice is provided which greatly simplifies the hanging of heavy orelongated lighting fix tures. By employing the means described, it ispossible to efiect a lighting assembly with a single person and with aminimum amount of time and labor.

It will be understood that numerous changes, may be madein the detailsof construction, arrangement, and operation without departing from thespirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger device for supporting onto the end of a hanger rod a fixturehaving laterally extending ledges. in spaced relation with the upperedge comprising a pair of similar strip members each having an inturnedouter end hook portion, an intermediate portion extending upwardly andinwardly in the direction toward each other but in spaced relationthroughout and a horizontally disposed portion at the inner end havingopenings therein dimensioned to enable the rod to extend looselytherethrough and which when said horizontally disposed portions are inoverlapping assembled relation are in registry, an adjustable fasteningdevice for loosely securing the strips in the assembled relation ontothe end portion of the hanger rod whereby, until said device is adjustedfor tightening the end portions in overlapping relation, the strips. maybe rocked about the rod to spread the inturned end portions for clearingthe upper edge portions of the fixture whereby the inturned end portionsmay drop naturally to establish a gripping relation as they clear theledges and which when tightened prevent relative movement between thestrip members to fix the assembled relation.

2. A hanger device as claimed in claim 1 in which portions are struckfrom the horizontally disposed portions in spaced relation from the endscorresponding to the amount of overlap to provide stops which preventrelative swinging movement between the strips while permitting relativerocking movement until tightened together.

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